Lonavala (Maharashtra) [India], June 29 (ANI): The two accused in the murder case of the Pune-based businessman Ketan Agarwal - Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary- were on Monday remanded to police custody until July 3.
The two accused were taken to court from Vadgaon Maval Police Station in Lonavala, Maharashtra and Lonavala Rural police produced them in the Vadgaon Maval court. The duo was presented in court for the second time after their police custody period expired.
Both accused were arrested on June 23 and were remanded to seven-day police custody till June 29 while further investigation continues.
Meanwhile, earlier today, Sahil Goyal the brother of Siya Goyal, claimed that Aashutosh Srivastava was neither authorised nor appointed by the family to represent them and that he was unaware of the claims being made by the lawyer.
"We have never hired him (Advocate Ashutosh Srivastava), and he is not someone that we have hired from our family. I know nothing about what he is claiming..." Sahil said.
Advocate Priyanka Baradkar, junior counsel to advocate Ashutosh Srivastava who had arrived at the Lonavala Police Station ahead of the court hearing declined to comment on the proceedings. "Today is the date of her hearing. Before the hearing, we cannot say anything," she said.
Meanwhile, Advocate Vipul Dushing, who said he has been appointed by Siya's family, was representing Siya in the case, said the matter was at a preliminary stage and that the defence would place its arguments before the court.
"We are representing Siya in this case. As of now, there are no specific expectations; the case is still in its very initial stage. We will present our arguments before the court and strive to secure at least a police custody remand for her..." Dushing said.
Pune Rural Police on Sunday revealed that the accused Siya Goyal allegedly provided a pre-decided signal to her accomplice, Chetan Chaudhary, before he allegedly pushed 26-year-old Ketan Agarwal off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on June 18.
On Sunday morning, a team from the Pune Rural Police took Siya Goyal to Lohagad Fort to recreate the crime scene. Additionally, investigators seized a scooter, allegedly used by Chaudhary to travel 100 km from Pune to the fort. Police suspect the vehicle was used to bypass toll plazas during the journey.
Earlier, the police alleged the duo hatched a conspiracy during a meeting at a cafe in Pune's Lullanagar area the day before the incident, a claim supported by recovered CCTV footage.
Authorities further revealed that the pair allegedly rehearsed the crime before its execution; investigators are currently working to identify the location of these rehearsals.
Ketan Agarwal and Siya Goyal were engaged on February 19 and were scheduled to marry later this year.
Police suspect that Goyal, who had allegedly been in a relationship with Chaudhary since October last year, was unwilling to proceed with the marriage. (ANI)
